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A review by celestialbronz
I'll Pretend You're Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan
4.5
Oh I LOVE THIS. A singer and an actor fake-dating for PR stunt, and it was so FUN.
Summer Ali just fired her parents as her managers because she’s done with their toxicity and over-controlling behavior. But she realized that she’s lost, totally don’t know what to do with her life without them, began second-guessing her actions that also didn't help her anxiety at all. Then enter Jules Moradi, an actor who's been a victim of media circus since he’s young, painting him to be a womanizer. via their shared manager, Jules proposed a PR stunt deal that could benefit them both.
since i'm a swiftie, thankfully i'm quite aware of the recent pop culture, so i get the references used in this book. the chapter titles being gossipy headlines is a brilliant concept that fits the theme so well. as for the characters, they're all very prominent & shine in their own way but their combined interactions just meld nicely. i loved Summer, Barbie, and Zach's trio friendship dynamics that felt both grounding and uplifting. i adored Summer and her sister's sisterhood, how they constantly bicker and tease but it's clear that they love each other dearly. and of course the star of the book, Summer & Jules.
their relationship was SO endearing, a perfect combination of fun banter and calming comfort. it didn't take long for them from being completely PR stunt-ing to genuine friends. they helped each other going through difficult times: Summer's struggle with anxiety and her toxic parents, and Jules with his identity crisis and something from his past. they bring the best out of each other and I couldn't be happier for them even though they're fictional:'
one thing that prevented me from giving this full 5 stars, is that there's several noticeable scene jumps that took some details away. for example on their early dates, Summer was making cheesecake for Jules (per his request) but we've never gotten to see Jules eat it. I understand the plot must keep going but I wouldn't mind more details, you know? but okayy.
lastly, THE EPILOGUE ugh I loved it so much. It's just a series of headlines but it exactly gives what I wanted from an epilogue. Tashie you're a genius, I'm sorry I just made myself read your book now and I swear I'd check your backlists soon. Can't wait for her next book which I noticed has the same title as the movie starring Jules in here???
btw SONEELA NANKANI I LOVE YOU YOU'RE AMAZINGGGGGG i enjoyed the audiobook so much!
Summer Ali just fired her parents as her managers because she’s done with their toxicity and over-controlling behavior. But she realized that she’s lost, totally don’t know what to do with her life without them, began second-guessing her actions that also didn't help her anxiety at all. Then enter Jules Moradi, an actor who's been a victim of media circus since he’s young, painting him to be a womanizer. via their shared manager, Jules proposed a PR stunt deal that could benefit them both.
since i'm a swiftie, thankfully i'm quite aware of the recent pop culture, so i get the references used in this book. the chapter titles being gossipy headlines is a brilliant concept that fits the theme so well. as for the characters, they're all very prominent & shine in their own way but their combined interactions just meld nicely. i loved Summer, Barbie, and Zach's trio friendship dynamics that felt both grounding and uplifting. i adored Summer and her sister's sisterhood, how they constantly bicker and tease but it's clear that they love each other dearly. and of course the star of the book, Summer & Jules.
their relationship was SO endearing, a perfect combination of fun banter and calming comfort. it didn't take long for them from being completely PR stunt-ing to genuine friends. they helped each other going through difficult times: Summer's struggle with anxiety and her toxic parents, and Jules with his identity crisis and something from his past. they bring the best out of each other and I couldn't be happier for them even though they're fictional:'
one thing that prevented me from giving this full 5 stars, is that there's several noticeable scene jumps that took some details away. for example on their early dates, Summer was making cheesecake for Jules (per his request) but we've never gotten to see Jules eat it. I understand the plot must keep going but I wouldn't mind more details, you know? but okayy.
lastly, THE EPILOGUE ugh I loved it so much. It's just a series of headlines but it exactly gives what I wanted from an epilogue. Tashie you're a genius, I'm sorry I just made myself read your book now and I swear I'd check your backlists soon. Can't wait for her next book which I noticed has the same title as the movie starring Jules in here???
btw SONEELA NANKANI I LOVE YOU YOU'RE AMAZINGGGGGG i enjoyed the audiobook so much!